CLINICAL-EXPERIENCES IN TENDON TRANSFERS FOR RADIAL NERVE PALSY BY A NEW METHOD OF WIEDEMANN

Many modifications of tendon transfers have been described in the trea tment of radial nerve palsy. Controversy persists over the muscles of choice to get the best results in motion of wrist and fingers. Patient s with radial nerve palsy and treated by the methode of Merle d'Aubign e in neurophysiological tests showed that the pronator teres did nor w ork very well for extending the wrist. Thinking about the neurophysiol ogic principles it seemed that the flexor digitorum superficialis of t he middle and ring fingers would make a better substitute for the wris t extension. From 1994 to 1997 four patients with radial nerve palsy h ad a transfer of the flexor digitorum superficialis tendons from the m iddle and ring fingers to the tendons of extensor carpi radialis longu s and brevis additional the flexor carpi ulnaris and palmaris longus t ransfers. The functional recovery of two patients has been tested. The functional range of wrist motion of this two patients has been better than in patients with pronator teres transfers. It can be concluded t hat the new modification of tendon transfers is a good way of treatmen t of radial nerve palsy and should be done further.